Putative Father Registry

Q: What is the purpose of the Putative Father Registry?

Answer: The Arkansas Department of Health maintains the Putative Father Registry. The purpose of the registry is to allow an unmarried father of a born or unborn child to register his name so he will be notified before the child is placed for adoption. The father does not have to be listed on the birth certificate to register.

Q: What is the cost of registering or searching the Putative Father Registry?

Answer: Registration is free and registry searches are $5.00. Requests for registration (which must include a completed VR118 form) or for searches (which must include payment either by check or money order to Arkansas Department of Health) may be submitted in person, via email at adh.vitalrecords@arkansas.gov, via fax to 501-661-2869, or by mail to Arkansas Department of Health, 4815 W Markham, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205.

Q: Who may I contact with a question about the Putative Father Registry?